Returning Manitoba Opera productions bring the love

It is now perhaps axiomatic to declare that artificial intelligence will revolutionize the world, as researchers and industry insiders are projecting the novel technology to become the greatest technological breakthrough in human history.

There has been a flurry of discussion in both our local and international contexts — and with good cause. We must remain steadfast to ensure our youth, local workforces, and environment are not negatively impacted by this burgeoning technology.

I wish to accentuate, however, a somewhat neglected area of public discussion around AI developments. Specifically, we urgently need to re-evaluate the ethos of humanity, particularly cognizant of the emergence of this digitally superintelligent species.

If artificial superintelligence (ASI) is ultimately achieved, leading academics theorize that these digital agents will be sentient, conscious, and astronomically more intelligent and powerful than us. In fact, numerous scholars believe AI to already possess some level of consciousness in its current iteration. This position is held by eminent evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, for example.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I re-rented my favourite summer cabin this fall because I’m trying to finish my thesis. My husband of just over a year was very annoyed with me for going on my own, but didn’t say much about it because I paid.

I thought we were both OK with this arrangement, until I got the flu up at the lake very badly and couldn’t keep anything down. I felt faint. I phoned him and he said he was at a party with the guys. I could hear music and girls laughing.

He wouldn’t come for me, so at 4 a.m. when I was getting even more sick and scared, I drove back to the city unannounced.

I went straight to my parents’ house and pretty much fell through the door. Mom said to me when she grabbed me: “This is not right. You could have died in the ditch. Where is your husband?”

Public servants and elections

We currently are in the midst of elections, mostly on the municipal level. Voters are reviewing policies and promises in anticipation of new programs and commitments that hopefully will enhance their daily life.

While those seeking political office live in anxiety during this time as they await their electoral fate, so too do many civil servants as election results will also determine their futures.

It is these civil servants who we rarely think of at election time.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I just got a funny birthday card and a single pink rose delivered to me at work from a boyfriend who broke up with me last spring because I’d gotten too serious (in his opinion). I cried for days back then. He ignored his phone.

I don’t know how to respond to him now. Do you think he’s really had a change of heart, or has he just not gotten lucky for a long time and thought I might be open to hooking up on my birthday?

— Suspicious Ex, Downtown

Dear Suspicious Ex: You just received a birthday card, a single pink rose and no voice contact? He wasn’t taking any chances on being shot down face-to-face, but he definitely is taking a stab at possibly getting some action.